On Sept. 9, representatives from nine local charities gathered at Myrtle Beach's Dunes Golf and Beach Club to receive a portion of $225,000 awarded by the inaugural 2024 Myrtle Beach Classic, the area’s first-ever PGA TOUR event. The tournament was a big hit, drawing more than 40,000 spectators during a week of ideal weather that helped showcase the region as "The Golf Capital of the World."
It is also improving the community as a whole through its charitable contributions.
The Boys and Girls Club of Myrtle Beach received the most funding, with $50,000 for its afterschool and summer programs. “The money really made a difference for us,” said Mark Lazarus, co-chair of the program’s board of directors. “We don’t have a steady income stream, so we have to depend on grants. We’ve helped about 170 kids with this money, offering programs from computer learning and basic education skills to recreation.”
“This was a game-changer for us,” said Becky Large, executive director of Champion Autism Network, a program that helps to create judgment-free experiences for people living with autism and one of the six local charities that received $26,750 each. “We support more than 900 families in Horry and Georgetown counties who have someone on the autism spectrum. We used these funds to create awareness and serve even more people.”
Other charities receiving the same amount were the Children’s Recovery Center, Classy Smiles, Helping Hand of Myrtle Beach, Project Golf, and SOS Care. Help 4 Kids received $10,000, while Blue Star Mothers of Coastal Carolina received $4,500. All of the benefitting charities have 501c3 status, meaning they are non-profit, tax-exempt groups with a dedicated mission.
Tournament Director Darren Nelson also announced that the same nine local charities will again be beneficiaries of the tournament in 2025.
“These selected charities are all doing impactful and meaningful work, and we are proud to provide assistance to further promote these programs that are making such a huge difference on the Grand Strand,” said Nelson. “The PGA TOUR has a time-honored tradition of supporting charities and giving back to each community where events are hosted.”
Tournaments under the PGA TOUR umbrella donate a portion of the net proceeds each year to support local philanthropic organizations, totaling close to $4 billion to date, which is more than all other major sports leagues combined.
The PGA TOUR’S Myrtle Beach Classic will again be played in early May in 2025 with the competition dates set for May 8-11 at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club.
